Monday Volume 528 23 May 2011 No. 162 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Monday 23 May 2011 £5·00 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2011 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Parliamentary Click-Use Licence, available online through The National Archives website at www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/our-services/parliamentary-licence-information.htm Enquiries to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU; e-mail: [email protected] 611 23 MAY 2011 612 absolutely need a zero-tolerance policy on illiteracy and House of Commons innumeracy. That is why we will be ensuring that all students pursue a course in English and maths to the Monday 23 May 2011 age of 18. The House met at half-past Two o’clock Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): The Secretary of State will know that one of the best ways PRAYERS of improving standards in schools is having a highly qualified and motivated teaching staff. I understand [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] that there has still been no response to the inquiry into the quality of teacher training that the Select Committee on Children, Schools and Families conducted when I BUSINESS BEFORE QUESTIONS was its Chair. ROSEMARY NELSON INQUIRY Resolved, Michael Gove: We gave an answer to that excellent That an humble Address be presented to Her Majesty, That report with the publication of our White Paper, “The she will be graciously pleased to give directions that there be laid Importance of Teaching”. From that title, I am sure before this House a Return of the Report, dated 23 May 2011, of that the hon. Gentleman will draw the appropriate the Rosemary Nelson Inquiry.—(James Duddridge.) inference that there is nothing more important than teaching. Oral Answers to Questions Mr Graham Stuart (Beverley and Holderness) (Con): The James review found that school buildings that are beyond being merely fit for purpose make no real EDUCATION contribution to educational standards and that teaching and leadership are what make the difference to The Secretary of State was asked— outcomes for children, not least in our weakest schools. Will the Secretary of State explain the difference in Underperforming Schools spending patterns that will be implemented by this Government as compared with those of the previous 1. Mary Macleod (Brentford and Isleworth) (Con): Government? What steps he is taking to improve standards in underperforming schools. [56573] Michael Gove: That is a typically good question from the Education Committee Chairman. Unlike the previous The Secretary of State for Education (Michael Gove): Government, we will not be wasting money on a capital I want our education system to be the best in the world, programme that is out of control and bureaucratic. which is why we have invested more than £100 million in Instead, we will be investing money in making sure that an endowment fund for the poorest students. We have more of the very best graduates go into teaching and we invested £2.5 billion in the pupil premium, we have will be expanding opportunities for inspirational figures expanded the academy programme and we have invested such as Peter Hyman to open new free schools and more in expanding elite routes into teaching such as target the disadvantaged, who need them most. Teach First. We have also raised the floor standards by which we judge schools’ performance. Some 216 secondary schools are below the floor standards with fewer than Meg Munn (Sheffield, Heeley) (Lab/Co-op): Last week, 35% of their students achieving five good GCSEs, I visited a school in my constituency that struggles to including English and maths, and 1,394 primary schools meet the floor targets but which has the most dedicated are below the floor standards with fewer than 60% of and outstanding teachers and head teacher anyone could pupils at the end of key stage 2 achieving level 4 or wish for. How will the Government support those above in English and maths. I wrote to local authorities outstanding teachers and make them feel that the job on 1 March asking them to set out their plans for they are doing is valued even though, because of all the improving their weaker schools. I received those plans other circumstances that those children experience in back on 15 April and I am reviewing them. their lives, the school will struggle to meet the floor targets? Mr Speaker: The answer, I am afraid, was simply too long. I hope that answers from now on will be shorter. Michael Gove: We have made our floor standards not Mary Macleod: In my constituency I want the best only tougher, by raising them, but fairer so that we take possible education for all pupils, no matter who they are account of progression. Those schools in which there or where they come from, but organisations such as the are children from challenging backgrounds with low CBI are saying that they are concerned by the numeracy levels of prior attainment will be judged in the round. and literacy levels of school leavers. Does my right hon. We are going to have a new measure in our performance Friend agree that we should have a zero-tolerance approach tables that focuses attention on the performance of the to underperforming schools and that we should prioritise 20% of students who come from the toughest backgrounds. literacy and numeracy levels? It is also the case that our pupil premium will ensure that schools such as the one the hon. Lady mentions, Michael Gove: I am sorry, Mr Speaker, that the with a high proportion of children from disadvantaged Government are doing so much that I could not pack it backgrounds, will simply get more money so that teachers all into one answer. I agree with my hon. Friend that we can do an even better job. 613 Oral Answers23 MAY 2011 Oral Answers 614 School Administration English Baccalaureate 2. Paul Uppal (Wolverhampton South West) (Con): 4. Catherine McKinnell (Newcastle upon Tyne North) What steps he is taking to reduce the burden of (Lab): What estimate he has made of the number of administration on schools; and if he will make a young people who will opt to study English statement. [56574] baccalaureate subjects in the 2011-12 academic year. [56576] The Minister of State, Department for Education (Mr Nick Gibb): The Government are committed to The Minister of State, Department for Education reducing the administrative burden on schools. We have (Mr Nick Gibb): We do not currently collect systematic already announced that the lengthy self-evaluation form data on pupil choices, but anecdotal evidence suggests will be removed, FMSiS—the financial management that the English baccalaureate measure is having a standard in schools—will be scrapped, and the inspection positive effect, with more schools making this combination framework will be streamlined. All data collections are of subjects open to more pupils. Our concern is that last being reviewed and we have included measures in the year just 15.6% of pupils achievedaCgradeorbetter in Education Bill to remove unnecessary regulations. In the English baccalaureate combination of subjects. addition, we are taking action to reduce dramatically the volume of guidance and advice issued to schools. Catherine McKinnell: I thank the Minister for that reply, but what would he say to a governor at Walbottle Paul Uppal: Free schools and academies reduce Campus in my constituency who raised with me the fact bureaucracy so that more time can be spent on education. that that school and others like it have seen an impressive Does the Minister agree that all those schools should be performance in GCSE results in the past few years, but encouraged in all areas so that children from any saw only about 5% of its pupils achieving the E-bac? background can have access to an environment that Does the Minister recognise the concern that E-bac by encourages aspiration and ambition? diktat will put at risk the hard work and commitment of staff, governors and pupils in creating a broad curriculum Mr Gibb: My hon. Friend is right. The recent Public that enables all pupils to thrive? Accounts Committee report on academies found that they have achieved rapid academic improvements and Mr Gibb: The English baccalaureate is not prescriptive. raised aspirations in some of the most challenging It is just a measure—one of many measures—that this schools in some of the most deprived parts of the Government are putting forward as part of the transparency country. That is why we are expanding the academies agenda. It is the next stage in that school’s improved programme and encouraging more providers to enter performance. It is a concern to the Government that the free schools movement. children, particularly in deprived areas, are not being Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Bradford South) (Lab): Although offered that combination of choices. Only 8% of children it is important to reduce the burden of administration, who qualify for free school meals were even entered for how will the Government make sure that free schools the English baccalaureate subjects, and only 4% achieved have the right management skills to deal with the issues them. they face? In Bradford, a number of free schools have Annette Brooke (Mid Dorset and North Poole) (LD): been approved where the management have no proven Does the Minister have any hard evidence that there has skills in management techniques. been a significant switch towards subjects in the English Mr Gibb: There is a rigorous approval procedure baccalaureate this year for this year’s results? Is he before any free school proposal is approved by the concerned that as a consequence cramming might have Secretary of State.